Collected Plays and Stories

 

CONTENTS

 

Pre-content

 

PLAYS

THE VIZIERS OF BASSORA

 

Rodogune

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE I

SCENE II  

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE V

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

 

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE V

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

 

 

Perseus the Deliverer

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE V

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

 

Eric

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE I

 

Vasavadutta

 

Incomplete and Fragmentary Plays

The Witch of Ilni

Act One

 

Act Two

 

Act Three

SCENE I

SCENE II

 

SCENE I

 

 SCENE I

SCENE II

 

The House of Brut

Act  twO

 

SCENE I

 

The Maid in the Mill

Act One

 

 

 

Act Two

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE Iii

SCENE Iv

SCENE v

 

 

 

SCENE I

 

The Prince of Edur

The Prince of Mathura

Act  One

SCENE I

 

The Birth of Sin

Act ONE

 

Fragment of a Play

Act  One

SCENE I

 

STORIES

Occult Idylls

The Phantom Hour

 The Door at Abelard

 

Incomplete and Fragmentary Stories

Fictional Jottings

Fragment of a Story

The Devil's Mastiff

The Golden Bird

 

 

Act III

 

Bassora.

 

Scene 1

 

Ibn Sawy's house. A room in the outer apartments decorated for a banquet.

Doonya, Anice, Balkis.

 

DOONYA

Lord, how they pillage! Even the furniture

Cannot escape these Djinns. Ogre Ghaneem

Picks up that costly chair between his teeth

And off to his castle; devil Ayoob drops

That table of mosaic in his pocket;

Zeb sweeps off rugs and couches in a whirlwind.

What purse will long put up with such ill-treatment?

 

BALKIS

It must be checked.

 

DOONYA

'Tis much that he has kept

His promise to my uncle. Oh, he's sound!

These villains spoil him. Anice, you're to blame.

However you complain, yourself are quite

As reckless.

 

ANICE

I?

 

Page – 73


DOONYA

Yes, you. Is there a bright

Unnecessary jewel you have seen

And have not bought? a dress that took your fancy

And was not in a moment yours? Or have you lost

A tiny chance of laughter, song and wine,

Since you were with him?

 

ANICE

A few rings and chains,

Some silks and cottons I have bought at times.

 

DOONYA

What did these trifles cost?

 

ANICE

I do not know.

 

DOONYA

Of course you do not. Come, it's gone too far;

Restrain him, curb yourself.

 

BALKIS

Next time he calls you

To sing among his wild companions, send

Cold answers, do not go.

 

ANICE

To break the jest,

The flow of good companionship, drive out

Sweet friendly looks with anger, be a kill-joy

And frowner in this bright and merry world!

Oh, all the sins that human brows grow wrinkled

With frowning at, could never equal this!

 

DOONYA

But if the skies grew darker?

 

Page – 74


ANICE

If they should!

It was a bright and merry world. To see him

Happy and gay and kind was all I cared for;

There my horizon stopped. But if the skies

Did darken! Doonya, it shall cease today.

Enter Azeem.

Well, Azeem.

 

AZEEM

Madam, half the creditors,

And that means half the shops in Bassora,

Hold session in the outer hall and swear

It shall be permanent till they get money.

 

ANICE

Where is your master? Call him here. A moment!

Have you the bills?

 

AZEEM

All of them, long as pillars

And crammed from head to foot with monstrous sums.

 

ANICE

Call him.

 

AZEEM

He's here.

Enter Nureddene.

NUREDDENE

What, cousin Doonya! Balkis!

Did you steal down to see the decorations?

Are they not pretty?

 

DOONYA

Like a painted tombstone

 

Page – 75


Sculptured and arabesqued, but death's inside

And bones, my brother, bones.

 

NUREDDENE

And there are bones

In this fair pleasing outside called dear Doonya,

But let us only think of rosy cheeks,

Sweet eyes and laughing lips and not the bones.

 

DOONYA

You have boned my metaphor and quite disboned it,

Until there's nothing firm inside; 'tis pulpy.

 

ANICE

The creditors besiege you, Nureddene;

You'll pay them.

 

NUREDDENE

Serious, Anice?

ANICE

Till you do,

I will not smile again. Azeem, the bills!

 

NUREDDENE

Is this your doing, Doonya?

 

DOONYA

Yours, cousin, yours.

 

NUREDDENE

Is't so? Anice?

 

ANICE

I've told you.

Page – 76


NUREDDENE

Show me the bills.

Go in, you three.

 

ANICE

Ah, he is grieved and angry!

His eyes are clouded; let me speak to him.

 

BALKIS

Now you'll spoil all; drag her off, Doonya.

 

DOONYA

Come.

Exit drawing away Anice, Balkis behind.

NUREDDENE

Well, sir, where are these bills?

 

AZEEM

You will see the bills?

 

NUREDDENE

The sums, the sums!

 

AZEEM

To tailor Mardouc twenty-four thousand pieces, namely, for caftans, robes, shawls, turbans, Damascus silks, —

 

NUREDDENE

Leave the inventory.

 

AZEEM

To tailor Labkan, another twenty thousand; to the baker, two thousand; to the confectioner, as much; to the Bagdad curio-merchant twenty-four thousand; to the same from Ispahan, sixteen thousand; to the jeweller on account of necklaces, bracelets, waist-ornaments, anklets, rings, pendents and all manner of

 

Page – 77


trinkets for the slave-girl Anice-aljalice, ninety thousand only; to the upholsterer —

 

NUREDDENE

Hold, hold! Why, what are all these monstrous sums?

Hast thou no word but thousands in thy belly,

Exorbitant fellow?

 

AZEEM

Why, sir, 'tis in the bills; my belly's empty enough.

 

NUREDDENE

Nothing but thousands!

 

AZEEM

Here's one for seven hundred, twelve dirhams and some odd

fractions from Husayn cook.

 

NUREDDENE

The sordid, dingy rogue! Will he dun me so brutally for a base seven hundred?

 

AZEEM

The fruiterer —

 

NUREDDENE

Away! bring bags.

 

AZEEM

Bags, sir?

 

NUREDDENE

Of money, fool. Call Harkoos and all the slaves. Bring half my treasury.

Exit Azeem.

She frown on me! look cold! for sums, for debts!

For money, the poor paltry stuff we dig

 

Page – 78


By shovels from base mire. Grows love so beggarly

That it must think of piastres? O my heart!

Enter Azeem, Harkoos and Slaves

with bags of money.

Heap them about the room. Go, Azeem, call

That hungry pack; they shall be fed.

Exit Azeem.

Harkoos,

Open two bags there. Have you broken the seals?

Enter Azeem ushering in the creditors.

Who asks for money?

 

COOK

I, sir. Seven hundred denars, twelve dirhams and three fourths of a dirham, that is my amount.

 

NUREDDENE

Take thy amount, thou dingy-hearted rogue.

Throws a bag towards him.

You there, take yours.

 

JEWELLER

Sir, this is not a hundredth part of your debt to me.

 

NUREDDENE

Give him two hundred bags.

 

HAROOKS

Bags, sir?

 

NUREDDENE

Do you grin, rogue, and loiter? Take that! (strikes him)

 

HAROOKS

Exactly. Your peg's loose, beat Harkoos. Old master or young, 'tis all one to Harkoos. Stick or leather! cuff or kick! these are all the houses of my horoscope.

 

Page – 79


NUREDDENE

I am sorry I struck thee; there's gold. Give them all the money; all, I say. Porter that home, you rascals, and count your sums. What's over, cram your throats with it; or, if you will, throw it in the gutter.

 

CREDITORS (scrambling and quarrelling for the bags)

That's mine! that's mine! no, mine! Leave go, you robber. Whom do you call robber, thief?

 

NUREDDENE

Cudgel them from the room.

Exeunt Creditors snatching bags

and pursued by the slaves.

AZEEM

'Tis madness, sir.

Nureddene motions him away. Exit Azeem.

NUREDDENE

If she were clothed in rags

And beggary her price, I'ld follow her

From here to China. She to frown on me

For money!

Enter Anice.

ANICE

Nureddene, what have you done?

 

NUREDDENE

You bade me pay the fellows: I have paid them.

 

ANICE

You are angry with me? I did not think you could

Be angry with me for so slight a cause.

Page – 80


NUREDDENE

I did not think that you could frown on me

For money, for a matter of money!

 

ANICE

You

Believe that? Is it so you know me? Dear,

While for my sake you ruined yourself, must I

Look smiling on? Nay, ruin then yourself

And try me.

 

NUREDDENE

Dear Anice, it was with myself

I was angry, but the coward in me turned

On you to avenge its pain. Let me forget

All else and only think of you and love.

 

ANICE

Shall I sing to you?

 

NUREDDENE

Do, Anice.

 

ANICE

There's a song —

Song

Love keep terms with tears and sorrow?

He's too bright.

Born today, he may tomorrow

Say goodnight.

Love is gone ere grief can find him;

But his way

Tears that, falling, lag behind him

Still betray.

I cannot sing.

Page – 81


NUREDDENE

Tears, Anice? O my love,

What worst calamity do they portend

For him who caused them?

 

ANICE

None, none! or only showers

The sunlight soon o'ertakes. Away with grief!

What is it after all but money lost?

Beggars are happier, are they not, my lord?

 

NUREDDENE

Much happier, Anice.

 

ANICE

Let us be beggars, then.

Oh, we shall wander blissfully about

In careless rags. And I shall take my lute

And buy you honey-crusts with my sweet voice.

For is not my voice sweet, my master?

 

NUREDDENE

Sweet

As Gabriel's when he sings before the Lord

And Heaven listens.

 

ANICE

We shall reach Bagdad

Someday and meet the Caliph in the streets,

The mighty Caliph Haroun Alrasheed,

Disguised, a beggar too, give him our crusts

And find ourselves all suddenly the friends

Of the world's master. Shall we not, my lord?

 

NUREDDENE

Anice, we shall.

Page – 82


ANICE

Let us be beggars then,

Rich happy paupers singing through the world.

Ah, but you have a father and a mother!

Come, sit down there and I will stand before you

And tell a story.

 

NUREDDENE

Sit by me and tell it.

 

ANICE

No, no. I'll stand.

 

NUREDDENE

Well, wilful. Now, your tale.

 

ANICE

I have forgotten it. It was about

A man who had a gem earth could not buy.

 

NUREDDENE

As I have you.

 

ANICE

Be silent, sir. He kept it

With ordinary jewels which he took

Each day and threw into the street, and said,

"I'll show this earth that all the gems it has,

Together match not this I'll solely keep."

 

NUREDDENE

As I'll keep you.

 

ANICE

Ah, but he did not know

What slender thread bound to a common pearl

That wonder. When he threw that out, alas!

 

Page – 83


His jewel followed, and though he sought earth through,

He never could again get back his gem.

 

NUREDDENE (after a pause)

Tomorrow I will stop this empty life,

Cut down expense and only live for you.

Tonight there is the banquet. It must stand,

My word being given. Azeem!

Enter Azeem.

What money still

Is in the treasury? What debts outstand?

 

AZEEM

More now than you can meet. But for today's folly, all would have been well, —  your lordly folly! Oh, beat me! I must speak.

 

NUREDDENE

Realize all the estate, the house only excepted; satisfy the creditors. For what's left, entreat delay.

 

AZEEM

They will not be entreated. They have smelt the carrion and are all winging up, beak outstretched and talons ready.

 

NUREDDENE

Carrion indeed and vile! Wherefore gave God

Reason to his best creatures, if they suffer

The rebel blood to o'ercrow that tranquil wise

And perfect minister? Do what thou canst.

I have good friends to help me in my need.

Exit.

AZEEM

Good friends? good bloodsuckers, good thieves! Much help his

need will have out of them!

 

Page – 84


ANICE

There's always Ajebe.

 

AZEEM

Will you trust him? He is the Vizier's nephew.

Exeunt.

Page – 85


Scene 2

The same.

Anice, Nureddene.

 

ANICE

And they all left?

 

NUREDDENE

Cafoor crept down and heard

The clamorous creditors; and they all left.

Ghaneem's dear mother's sick; for my sweet love

Only he came, leaving her sad bedside;

Friend Ayoob's uncle leaves today for Mecca:

In Cafoor's house there is a burial toward;

Zeb's father, Omar's brother, Hussan's wife

Are piteously struck down. There never was

So sudden an epidemic witnessed yet

In Bassora, and all with various ailments.

 

ANICE

This is their friendship!

 

NUREDDENE

We will not judge so harshly.

It may be that a generous kindly shame

Or half-remorseful delicacy had pricked them.

I've sent Harkoos to each of them in turn

For loans to help me. We shall see. Who's here?

Enter Ajebe.

Ajebe, you have come back, you only? Yes,

You were my friend and checked me always. Man

Is not ignoble, but has angel soarings,

 

Page – 86


Howe'er the nether devil plucks him down.

Still we have souls nor is the mould quite broken

Of that original and faultless plan

Which Adam spoilt.

 

AJEBE

I am your ruin's author.

If you have still a sword, use it upon me.

 

NUREDDENE

What's this?

 

AJEBE

Incited by the Vizier, promised

Greatness, I in my turn incited these

To hurry you to ruin. Will you slay me?

 

NUREDDENE (after a silence)

Return and tell the Vizier that work's done.

Be great with him.

 

AJEBE

Are you entirely ruined?

 

NUREDDENE

Doubt not your work's well done; you can assure

The uncle. Came you back for that?

 

AJEBE

If all I have, —

 

NUREDDENE

No more! return alive.

 

AJEBE

You punish home.

Exit.

 

Page – 87


NUREDDENE

The eunuch lingers.

Enter Harkoos.

Well, sir, your success?

 

HARKOOS

I went first to Ayoob. He has had losses, very suddenly, and is dolorous that he cannot help you.

 

NUREDDENE

Ghaneem?

 

HARKOOS

Has broken his leg for the present and cannot see anyone for a long fortnight.

 

NUREDDENE

Cafoor?

 

HARKOOS

Has gone into the country —  upstairs.

 

NUREDDENE

Zeb?

 

HARKOOS

Wept sobbingly. Every time I mentioned money, he drowned the subject in tears. I might have reached his purse at last, but I cannot swim.

 

NUREDDENE

Omar?

 

HARKOOS

Will burn his books sooner than lend you money.

 

Page – 88


NUREDDENE

Did all fail me?

 

HARKOOS

Some had dry eyes and some wet, but none a purse.

 

NUREDDENE

Go.

Exit Harkoos.

What next? Shall I, like him of Athens, change

And hate my kind? Then should I hate myself,

Who ne'er had known their faults, if my own sins

Pursued me not like most unnatural hounds

Into their screened and evil parts of nature.

God made them; what He made, is doubtless good.

 

ANICE

You still have me.

 

NUREDDENE

That's much.

 

ANICE

No, everything.

 

NUREDDENE

'Tis true and I shall feel it soon.

 

ANICE

My jewels

And dresses will fill up quite half the void.

 

NUREDDENE

Shall I take back my gifts?

 

ANICE

If they are mine,

 

Page – 89


I choose to sell them.

 

NUREDDENE

Do it. I forgot;

Let Cafoor have the vase I promised him.

Come, Anice. I will ask Murad for help.

Exeunt.

Page – 90


Scene 3

A room in Ajebe's house.

Balkis, Mymoona.

 

BALKIS

Did he not ask after me? I'm sick, Mymoona.

 

MYMOONA

Sick? I think both of you are dying of a galloping consumption.

Such colour in the cheeks was never a good symptom.

 

BALKIS

Tell him I am very, very ill; tell him I am dying. Pray be pathetic.

 

MYMOONA

Put saffron on your cheeks and look nicely yellow; he will melt.

 

BALKIS

I think my heart will break.

 

MYMOONA

Let it do so quickly; it will mend the sooner.

 

BALKIS (in tears)

How can you be so harsh to me, Mymoona?

 

MYMOONA

You foolish child! Why did you strain your power

To such a breaking tightness? There's a rhythm

Will shatter hardest stone; each thing in nature

Has its own point where it has done with patience

And starts in pieces; below that point play on it,

 

Page – 91


Nor overpitch the music. Look, he's coming.

 

BALKIS

I'll go.

 

MYMOONA (holding her)

You shall not.

Enter Ajebe.

AJEBE

I thought you were alone,

Mymoona. I am not cheap to thrust myself

Where I'm not wanted.

 

BALKIS

I would be gone, Mymoona.

In truth, I thought it was the barber's woman;

Therefore I stayed.

 

AJEBE

There are such hearts, Mymoona,

As think so little of adoring love,

They make it only a pedestal for pride,

A whipping-stock for their vain tyrannies.

 

BALKIS

Mymoona, there are men so weak in love,

They cannot bear more than an ass's load;

So high in their conceit, the tenderest

Kindest rebuke turns all their sweetness sour.

 

AJEBE

Some have strange ways of tenderness, Mymoona.

 

BALKIS

Mymoona, some think all control a tyranny.

 

Page – 92


MYMOONA

O you two children! Come, an end of this!

Give me your hand.

 

AJEBE

My hand? Wherefore my hand?

 

MYMOONA

Give it. I join two hands that much desire

And would have met ere this but for their owners,

Who have less sense than they.

 

BALKIS

She's stronger than me,

Or I'ld not touch you.

 

AJEBE

I would not hurt Mymoona;

Therefore I take your hand.

 

MYMOONA

Oh, is it so?

Then by your foolish necks! Make your arms meet

About her waist.

 

AJEBE

Only to satisfy you,

Whom only I care for.

 

MYMOONA

Yours here on his neck.

 

BALKIS

I was about to yawn, therefore I raised them.

 

MYMOONA

I go to fetch a cane. Look that I find you

 

Page – 93


Much better friends. If you will not agree,

Your bones at least shall sympathise and ruefully.

Exit.

AJEBE

How could you be so harsh to my great love?

 

BALKIS

How could you be so cruel and so wicked?

 

AJEBE

I kiss you, but 'tis only your red lips

So soft, not you who are more hard than stone.

 

BALKIS

I kiss you back, but only 'tis because

I hate to be in debt.

 

AJEBE

Will you be kinder?

 

BALKIS

Will you be more obedient and renounce

Your hateful uncle?

 

AJEBE

Him and all his works,

If you will only smile on me.

 

BALKIS

I'll laugh

Like any horse. No, I surrender. Clasp me,

I am your slave.

 

AJEBE

My queen of love.

 

Page – 94


BALKIS

Both, both.

 

AJEBE

Why were you so long forward?

 

BALKIS

Do you remember

I had to woo you in the market? how you

Hesitated a moment?

 

AJEBE

Vindictive shrew!

 

BALKIS

This time had I not reason to be angry?

 

AJEBE

Oh, too much reason! I feel so vile until

I find a means to wash this uncle stain from me.

Enter Mymoona.

MYMOONA

That's well. But we must now to Nureddene's.

For hard pressed as he is, he'll sell his Anice.

 

BALKIS

Never!

 

MYMOONA

He must.

 

AJEBE

I'll lend him thrice her value.

 

MYMOONA

Do not propose it. The wound you gave's too recent.

 

Page – 95


BALKIS

Then let me keep her as a dear deposit,

The sweet security of Ajebe's loan,

Till he redeems her.

 

MYMOONA

He will take no favours.

No, let him sell her in the open market;

Ajebe will overtop all bids. Till he

Get means, she's safe with us and waiting for him.

 

BALKIS

Oh, let us go at once.

 

MYMOONA

I'll order litters.

Exit.

AJEBE

Will you be like this always?

 

BALKIS

If you are good,

I will be. If not, I will out-shrew Xantippe.

 

AJEBE

With such a heaven and hell in view, I'll be

An angel.

 

BALKIS

Of what colour?

 

AJEBE

Black beside you,

But fair as seraphs to what I have been.

Exeunt.

Page – 96


Scene 4

Ibn Sawy's house.

Anice, alone.

 

ANICE

If Murad fails him, what is left? He has

No other thing to sell but only me.

A thought of horror! Is my love then strong

Only for joy, only to share his heaven?

Can it not enter Hell for his dear sake?

How shall I follow him then after death,

If Heaven reject him? For the path's so narrow

Footing that judgment blade, to slip's so easy.

Avert the need, O Heaven.

Enter Nureddene.

Has Murad failed him?

 

NUREDDENE

Murad refuses. This load of debt's a torture!

 

ANICE

The dresses and the gems you made me keep —

 

NUREDDENE

Keep them; they are your own.

 

ANICE

I am your slave-girl.

My body and what it wears, all I am, all I have,

Are only for your use.

 

Page – 97


NUREDDENE

Girl, would you have me strip you then quite bare?

 

ANICE

What does it matter? The coarsest rag ten dirhams

Might buy, would be enough, if you'ld still love me.

 

NUREDDENE

These would not meet one half of what I owe.

 

ANICE

Master, you bought me for ten thousand pieces.

 

NUREDDENE

Be silent.

ANICE

Has my value lessened since?

 

NUREDDENE

No more! You'll make me hate you.

 

ANICE

If you do,

'Tis better; it will help my heart to break.

 

NUREDDENE

Have you the heart to speak of this?

 

ANICE

Had I

Less heart, less love, I would not speak of it.

 

NUREDDENE

I swore to my father that I would not sell you.

 

Page – 98


ANICE

But there was a condition.

 

NUREDDENE

If you desired it!

 

ANICE

Do I not ask you?

 

NUREDDENE

Speak truth! do you desire it?

Truth, in the name of God who sees your heart!

Ah, you are silent.

 

ANICE (weeping)

How could I desire it?

Ajebe is here. Be friends with him, dear love;

Forgive his fault.

 

NUREDDENE

Anice, my own sins are

So heavy, not to forgive his lesser vileness

Would leave me without hope of heavenly pardon.

 

ANICE

I'll call him then.

Exit.

 

NUREDDENE

Let me absolve these debts,

Then straight with Anice to Bagdad the splendid.

There is the home for hearts and brains and hands,

Not in this petty centre. Core of Islam,

Bagdad, the flood to which all brooks converge.

Anice returns with Ajebe, Balkis, Mymoona.

 

Page – 99


AJEBE

Am I forgiven?

 

NUREDDENE

Ajebe, let the past

Have never been.

 

AJEBE

You are Ibn Sawy's son.

 

NUREDDENE

Give me your counsel, Ajebe. I have nothing

But the mere house which is not saleable.

My father must not find a homeless Bassora,

Returning.

 

MYMOONA

Nothing else?

 

ANICE

Only myself

Whom he'll not sell.

 

MYMOONA

He must.

 

NUREDDENE

Never, Mymoona.

 

MYMOONA

Fear not the sale which shall be in name alone.

'Tis only Balkis borrowing her from you

Who pawns her value. She will stay with me

Serving our Balkis, safe from every storm.

But if you ask, why then the mart and auction?

We must have public evidence of sale

To meet an uncle's questions.

 

Page – 100


ANICE

O now there's light.

Blessed Mymoona!

 

NUREDDENE

It must not be. My oath!

 

ANICE

But I desire it now, yes, I desire it.

 

NUREDDENE

And is my pride then nothing? Shall I sell her

To be a slave-girl's slave-girl? Pardon, Balkis.

 

MYMOONA

Too fine, too fine!

 

ANICE

To serve awhile my sister!

For that she is in heart.

 

BALKIS

Serve only in name.

 

MYMOONA

She will be safe while you rebuild your fortunes.

 

NUREDDENE

I do not like it.

 

MYMOONA

Nor does anyone

As in itself, but only as a refuge

From greater evils.

 

NUREDDENE

Oh, you're wrong, Mymoona.

 

Page – 101


To quibble with an oath! it will not prosper.

Straight dealing's best.

 

MYMOONA

You look at it too finely.

 

NUREDDENE

Have it your way, then.

 

MYMOONA

Call the broker here.

A quiet sale! The uncle must not hear of it.

 

AJEBE

'Twould be the plague.

 

NUREDDENE

I fear it will not prosper.

Exeunt.

 

Page – 102


Scene 5

The slave-market.

Muazzim with Anice exposed for sale; Ajebe, Aziz, Abdullah

and Merchants.

 

MUAZZIM

Who bids?

 

AZIZ

Four thousand.

 

MUAZZIM

She went for ten when she was here first. Will you not raise your bid nearer her value?

 

AZIZ

She was new then and untouched. 'Tis the way with goods, broker; they lose value by time and purchase, use and soiling.

 

MUAZZIM

Oh, sir, the kissed mouth has always honey. But this is a Peri and immortal lips have an immortal sweetness.

 

AJEBE

Five hundred to that bid.

Enter Almuene with Slaves.

 

ALMUENE (to himself )

Ah, it is true! All things come round at last

With the full wheel of Fate; it is my hour.

Fareed shall have her. She shall be well handled

To plague her lover's heart before he dies.

 

Page – 103


(aloud)

Broker, who sells the girl and what's her rate?

 

AJEBE

All's lost.

 

MUAZZIM

Nureddene bin Alfazzal bin Sawy sells her and your nephew has bid for her four thousand and five hundred.

 

ALMUENE

My nephew bids for me. Who bids against?

 

AJEBE

Uncle —

 

ALMUENE

Go, find out other slave-girls, Ajebe.

Do well until the end.

Exit Ajebe.

Who bids against me?

She's mine then. Come.

 

ANICE

I'll not be sold to you.

 

ALMUENE

What, dar'st thou speak, young harlot? Fear the whip.

 

ANICE

Vizier, I fear you not; there's law in Islam.

My master will deny the sale.

 

ALMUENE

Thy master

Shall be a kitchen negro, who shall use thee.

 

Page – 104


ANICE

Had I a whip, you should not say it twice.

 

MUAZZIM

Vizier, Vizier, by law the owner's acceptance only is final for the sale.

 

ALMUENE

It is a form, but get it. I am impatient

Until I have this strumpet in my grip.

 

MUAZZIM

Well, here he comes.

Enter Nureddene and Ajebe.

 

A MERCHANT

Shall we go, shall we go?

 

ABDULLAH

Stand by! 'Tis noble Ibn Sawy's son.

We must protect him even at our own peril.

 

MUAZZIM

She goes for a trifle, sir; and even that little you will not get. You will weary your feet with journeyings, only to be put off by his villains, and when you grow clamorous they will demand your order and tear it before your eyes. That's your payment.

 

NUREDDENE

That's nothing. The wolf's cub, hunchback Fareed!

The sale is off.

 

MUAZZIM

Be advised by me. Catch the girl by the hair and cuff her soundly, abusing her with the harshest terms your heart can consent to, then off with her quickly as if you had brought her to market only to execute an oath made in anger. So he loses his hold on her.

 

Page – 105


NUREDDENE

I'll tell the lie. One fine, pure-seeming falsehood,

Admitted, opens door to all his naked

And leprous family; in, in, they throng

And breed the house quite full.

 

MUAZZIM

The Vizier wants her.

He bids four thousand pieces and five hundred.

 

NUREDDENE

'Tis nothing. Girl, I keep my oath. Suffice it

You're bidden for and priced in open market here.

Come home! Be now less dainty, meeker of tongue,

Or you shall have more feeling punishments.

Do I need to sell thee? Home! my oath is kept.

 

ALMUENE

This is a trick to cheat the law. Thou ruffian!

Cheap profligate! What hast thou left to sell

But thy own sensual filth and drunken body, —

If any out of charity would spend

Some dirhams to reform thee with a scourge?

Vile son of a bland hypocrite!

He draws his scimitar.

ABDULLAH

Pause, Vizier.

 

AZIZ

Be patient, Nureddene.

 

ALMUENE

I yet shall kill him.

Hence, harlot, foot before me to my kitchen.

 

Page – 106


ANICE

He has abused me filthily, my lord,

Before these merchants.

 

ALMUENE

Abuse thee, rag? Hast thou

An use? To be abused is thy utility.

Thou shalt be used and common.

 

NUREDDENE

Stand by, you merchants; let none interfere

On peril of his life. Thou foul-mouthed tyrant,

Into the mire and dirt, where thou wert gendered!

 

ALMUENE

Help, help! Hew him in pieces.

The slaves are rushing forward.

 

ABDULLAH

What do you, fellows?

This is a Vizier and a Vizier's son.

Shall common men step in? You'll get the blows

For only thanks.

 

ALMUENE

Oh! oh! Will you then kill me?

 

NUREDDENE

If thou wouldst live, crave pardon of the star

Thou hast spat on. I would make thee lick her feet

But that thy lips would foul their purity.

 

ALMUENE

Pardon, oh, pardon!

 

NUREDDENE (throwing him away)

Live then, in thy gutter.

Exit with Anice.

 

Page – 107


ABDULLAH

Go, slaves, lift up your master, lead him off.

Exeunt Slaves with Almuene.

He is well punished.

 

AZIZ

What will come of this?

 

ABDULLAH

No good to Nureddene. Let's go and warn him;

He's bold and proud, may think to face it out,

Which were mere waiting death.

 

AZIZ

I pray on us

This falls not.

Exeunt Merchants.

MUAZZIM

Here was ill-luck!

 

AJEBE

Nor ends with this.

I'll have a ship wide-sailed and well-provisioned

For their escape. Bassora will not hold them.

Exeunt.

Page – 108


Scene 6

 

The Palace at Bassora.

Alzayni, Salar.

 

ALZAYNI

So it is written here. Hot interchange

And high defiance have already passed

Between our Caliph and the daring Roman.

Europe and Asia are at grips once more.

To inspect the southward armies unawares

Haroun himself is coming.

 

SALAR

Alfazzal then

Returns to us, unless the European,

After their barbarous fashion, seize on him.

 

ALZAYNI

'Tis strange, he sends no tidings of the motion

I made to Egypt.

 

SALAR

'Tis too dangerous

To write of, as indeed 'twas ill-advised

To make the approach.

 

ALZAYNI

Great dangers justify

The smaller. Caliph Alrasheed conceives

On trifling counts a dumb displeasure towards me

Which any day may speak; 'tis whispered of

In Bagdad. Alkhasib, the Egyptian Vizier,

 

Page – 109


Is in like plight. It is mere policy,

Salar, to build out of a common peril

A common safety.

 

SALAR

Haroun Alrasheed

Could break each one of you between two fingers,

Stretching his left arm out to Bassora,

His right to Egypt. Sultan, wilt thou strive

Against the single giant of the world?

 

ALZAYNI

Giants are mortal, friend, be but our swords

As bold as sharp. Call Murad here to me.

Exit Salar.

My state is desperate, if Haroun lives;

He's sudden and deadly, when his anger bursts.

But let me be more sudden, yet more deadly.

Enter Murad.

Murad, the time draws near. The Caliph comes

To Bassora; let him not thence return.

 

MURAD

My blade is sharp and what I do is sudden.

 

ALZAYNI

My gallant Turk! Thou shalt rise high, believe it.

For I need men like thee.

 

MURAD (to himself )

But Kings like thee

Earth needs not.

 

VOICE WITHOUT

Justice! justice! justice, King!

King of the Age, I am a man much wronged.

Page – 110


ALZAYNI

Who cries beneath my window? Chamberlain!

Enter Sunjar.

SUNJAR

An Arab daubed with mud and dirt, all battered,

Unrecognizable, with broken lips cries out

For justice.

 

ALZAYNI

Bring him here.

Exit Sunjar.

It is some brawl.

Enter Sunjar with Almuene.

Thou, Vizier! Who has done this thing to thee?

 

ALMUENE

Mohamad, son of Sulyman! Sultan

Alzayni! Abbasside! how shalt thou long

Have friends, if the King's enemies may slay

In daylight, here, in open Bassora

The King's best friends because they love the King?

 

ALZAYNI

Name them at once and choose their punishment.

 

ALMUENE

Alfazzal's son, that brutal profligate,

Has done this.

 

MURAD

Nureddene!

 

ALZAYNI

Upon what quarrel?

 

Page – 111


ALMUENE

A year ago Alfazzal bought a slavegirl

With the King's money for the King, a gem

Of beauty, learning, mind, fit for a Caliph.

But seeing the open flower he thought perhaps

Your royal nose too base to smell at it,

So gave her to his royaller darling son

To soil and rumple. No man with a neck

Dared tell you of it, such your faith was in him.

 

ALZAYNI

Is't so? our loved and trusted Ibn Sawy!

 

ALMUENE

This profligate squandering away his wealth

Brought her to market; there I saw her and bid

Her fair full price. Whereat he stormed at me

With words unholy; yet I answered mild,

"My son, not for myself, but the King's service

I need her." He with bold and furious looks,

"Dog, Vizier of a dog, I void on thee

And on thy Sultan." With which blasphemy

He seized me, rolled in the mire, battered with blows,

Kicks, pullings of the beard, then dragged me back

And flung me at his slavegirl's feet, who, proud

Of her bold lover, footed my grey head

Repeatedly and laughed, "This for thy King,

Thy dingy stingy King who with so little

Would buy a slavegirl sole in all the world."

 

SUNJAR

Great Hasheem's vein cords all the Sultan's forehead.

 

MURAD

The dog has murdered both of them with lies.

 

Page – 112


ALZAYNI

Now by the Prophet, my forefather! Out,

Murad! drag here the fellow and his girl;

Trail them with ropes tied to their bleeding heels,

Their faces in the mire, with pinioned hands

Behind their backs, into my presence here.

Sack Sawy's mansion, raze it to the ground.

What, am I grown so bare that by-lane dogs

Like these so loudly bay at me? They die!

 

MURAD

Sultan, —

 

ALZAYNI

He's doomed who speaks a word for them.

Exit.

ALMUENE

Brother-in-law Murad, fetch your handsome brother.

Soon, lest the Sultan hear of it!

 

MURAD

Vizier,

I know my duty. Know your own and do it.

 

ALMUENE

I'll wash, then forth in holiday attire

To see that pretty sport.

Exit.

SUNJAR

What will you do?

 

MURAD

Sunjar, a something swift and desperate.

I will not let them die.

Page – 113


SUNJAR

Run not on danger.

I'll send a runner hotfoot to their house

To warn them.

Exit Sunjar.

MURAD

Do so. What will Doonya say

When she hears this? How will her laughing eyes

Be clouded and brim over! Till Haroun comes!

Exit.

 

Page – 114


Scene 7

Ibn Sawy's house.

Nureddene, Anice.

 

NUREDDENE

'Tis Sunjar warns us, he who always loved

Our father.

 

ANICE

Oh, my lord, make haste and flee.

 

NUREDDENE

Whither and how? But come.

Enter Ajebe.

AJEBE

Quick, Nureddene.

I have a ship all ready for Bagdad,

Sails bellying with fair wind, the pilot's hand

Upon the wheel, the captain on the deck,

You only wanting. Flee then to Bagdad

And at the mighty Haroun's hand require

Justice upon these tyrants. Oh, delay not.

 

NUREDDENE

O friend! But do me one more service, Ajebe.

Pay the few creditors unsatisfied;

My father will absolve me when he comes.

 

AJEBE

That's early done. And take my purse. No fumbling,

I will not be denied.

 

Page – 115


NUREDDENE

Bagdad! (laughing) Why, Anice,

Our dream comes true; we hobnob with the Caliph!

Exeunt.

 

Page – 116